An ontology for the interoperability of hydrological simulation model

Simulation models have been used successfully to understand processes and to assist the formulation and evaluation of several systems. The general case is that the models are not well specified and documented. This peculiarity produces interoperability problems, such as: replicating tasks, wasting the potential of the simulation models and those systems that use them. Considering the above mentioned problem and with the aim at providing solutions, the Hydrological Domain is taken as study focus. In this context, an ontology was defined by using the Methontology method. As is well known an ontology provides a common vocabulary. It is based on a set of concepts and relations between them. Therefore, it can be used to facilitate the system's interoperation. The ontology defined was validated by using a survey. This survey was distributed between the experts of hydro-logical domain. The result obtained was promissory for two main reasons. The first one, an agreement was reached which allows establishing the basic requirements for the interoperability of hydrological systems that use simulation models. The second one is concerned with solving the general interoperability problem. In this sense, an approach, based on ontologies, for reaching the interoperability of whatever system was delineated. For the reasons mentioned above, we believe that the ontology defined is an interesting contribution for solving the interoperability problems of hydrological systems. This is because it provides a conceptual framework that makes it possible to share results which are all interpreted in the same way for all hydrological systems. Needless to say that the approach used in this work can be applied to solve any interoperability problem.